An Elegant Waterfront Home with Warm and Welcoming Interiors in Seattle

Courtyard House is an elegant waterfront residence designed by DeForest Architects. The home is located in Seattle, Washington, USA, blends in its warm interior, and welcoming exterior flawlessly.

by Svetlanka Aug 22, 2020 16 Images

Courtyard House by DeForest Architects

The owners of this waterfront home asked DeForest Architects to design a welcoming modern home with a seamless connection between indoors and out, a warm and elegant material palette, and “a view of Mount Rainier at our feet.” Squeezed between a narrow private lane and the lake, the main challenge was to create a sense of privacy and retreat while making the most of expansive views.

DeForest Architects responded with a main floor that flows from private entry courtyard through the great room and out to a series of waterfront entertaining spaces. Floor-to-ceiling lift-slide doors and hidden steel structure maximize the sense of openness. At the same time, the house is warm and welcoming thanks to a weathered limestone floor, fir ceiling, oak and walnut cabinets, and comfortable furniture with clean lines.

At the upper level, a band of channel glass running the length of the house affords privacy while admitting natural light and providing glimpses of the courtyard and a green roof. Each of the four bedrooms has a view of the lake and private deck and the guest bath and laundry are daylit by floor-to-ceiling channel glass.

Photos by: DeForest Architects & Benjamin Benschneider